WEBVTT THEIR MOVE TO SOLAR POWER. WMUR’S JENNIFER CROMPTON REPORTS FROM DERRY. JENNIFER: THE TUPELO MUSIC HALL IS AN INTIMATE VENUE THAT DRAWS BIGGER ARTISTS LIKE MELISSA ETHERIDGE, LYLE LOVETT AND TOTO, AND IT’S COOL FACTOR IS NOW BUMPED UP EVEN MORE. AN ARRAY OF 313 INDIVIDUAL SIXTY CELL PANELS MAKING IT THE FIRST SOLAR-POWERED VENUE OF ITS KIND IN NEW ENGLAND. >> WE ALWAYS TRY TO STAY ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND HOW WE DO THINGS. JENNIFER: A RIBBON CUTTING MADE IT OFFICIAL. OWNER SCOTT HAYWARD SAYS REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT IS A BIG REASON FOR THE INVESTMENTS. >> WE HAVE GENERATIONS COMING AFTER US. WHY LEAVE THE EARTH IN WORSE SHAPE? JENNIFER: HE SAYS WITH LOAN PAYMENTS NOW LESS THAN WHAT HE HAS BEEN PAYING HIS ELECTRIC UTILITY EACH YEAR, ALONG WITH TAX INCENTIVES, GOING SOLAR ALSO MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. >> A BIG PART OF THE PROJECT, WE TOOK THE TAX MONEY WE WOULD GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AND PAID DOWN THE SYSTEM. IT WAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR US. JENNIFER: THEIR ELECTRIC BILL AVERAGES ABOUT $30,000 PER YEAR. BECAUSE OF THESE PANELS, AFTER SEVEN YEARS, IT WILL BASICALLY BE FREE. >> THEY HAVE A 25 YEAR WARRANTY AND ARE BUILT TO PRODUCE FOR AT LEAST 40-50 YEARS. THAT MEANS DECADES OF FREE POWER JUST HARVESTING THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF. JENNIFER: ALL OF THE LIGHTS, THE SOUND SYSTEM, ELECTRIC GUITARS, TOUR BUSES, AND KITCHEN COOLERS, THAT BRING 160 SHOWS AND 40 EVENTS TO LIFE EVERY YEAR, NOW 100% POWERED BY WHAT IS UP ON THE ROOF. >> TO

A popular venue in New Hampshire is becoming the first in New England to be 100 percent powered by the sun.The Tupelo Music Hall held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to mark its move to solar power.The hall is an intimate venue that draws bigger artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Lyle Lovett and Toto. Owners said its "cool" factor is now bumped up even more with the installation of an array of 313 different 60-cell solar panels.Owner Scott Hayward said reducing the venue's carbon footprint is a big reason for the investment."We all have kids and grandkids, and we have generations coming after us, and why leave the world in worse shape?" he said.Hayward said with tax incentives and loan payments now lower than what he has been paying his electric utility each year, going solar also makes financial sense. "A big part of the project was we took our tax money that we would've given the government and will basically pay down the system, so net, it was the same amount of money for us," he said.The Tupelo Music Hall's electric bill averages about $30,000 per year, Hayward said. But with the solar panels, the hall's electricity will basically be free after seven years."These systems have a 25-year warranty, and they're built to produce for 40 to 50 years, so that means literally decades of free power. just harvesting that sunlight on the roof," said Dan Weeks of ReVision Energy.All the lights, the sound system, electric guitars, tour buses and kitchen coolers that help bring 160 shows and 40 events to life every year will soon be 100 percent powered by the panels on the roof."To see them leading this clean energy transition is just really exciting," Weeks said.

DERRY, N.H. —

A popular venue in New Hampshire is becoming the first in New England to be 100 percent powered by the sun.

The Tupelo Music Hall held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to mark its move to solar power.

Advertisement

The hall is an intimate venue that draws bigger artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Lyle Lovett and Toto. Owners said its "cool" factor is now bumped up even more with the installation of an array of 313 different 60-cell solar panels.

Owner Scott Hayward said reducing the venue's carbon footprint is a big reason for the investment.

"We all have kids and grandkids, and we have generations coming after us, and why leave the world in worse shape?" he said.

Hayward said with tax incentives and loan payments now lower than what he has been paying his electric utility each year, going solar also makes financial sense.

"A big part of the project was we took our tax money that we would've given the government and will basically pay down the system, so net, it was the same amount of money for us," he said.

The Tupelo Music Hall's electric bill averages about $30,000 per year, Hayward said. But with the solar panels, the hall's electricity will basically be free after seven years.

"These systems have a 25-year warranty, and they're built to produce for 40 to 50 years, so that means literally decades of free power. just harvesting that sunlight on the roof," said Dan Weeks of ReVision Energy.

All the lights, the sound system, electric guitars, tour buses and kitchen coolers that help bring 160 shows and 40 events to life every year will soon be 100 percent powered by the panels on the roof.

"To see them leading this clean energy transition is just really exciting," Weeks said.